A pious young man, of ardent filial affection, buried his beloved mother, and afterwards was frequently heard to say, that one of the chief pleasures he anticipated in the prospect of heaven was meeting again his sainted mother. But that young man, on his death-bed, was heard to say, "It seems to me, if I am so happy as to enter heaven, that I shall wish to spend a thousand years, before I think of any thing else, in looking upon my Saviour." We Yes, blessed Saviour; and in thy bosom nestles the lamb from our fold. We cannot look at thee, without beholding him. cannot think of him, without remembering thy sweet words, "Suffer the little children to come unto me." It is not, then, the illusion of fancy, it is the dictate of Christian faith, to look toward the holy city, and within its gates of pearl to see the little one that has been taken from us, now a pure beatified spirit, robed in celestial beauty, with a crown on his head, and a harp in his hand, beckoning us to come up thither. Oh! it was sweet to hear his voice in the glee of infancy; to feel his lips as they pressed the fount of life, or met our own in the kiss of parental love; to listen to his infant prayer, or his gentle murmur, when we hummed the evening lullaby. "His presence was like sunshine, And sweeten all our mirth." But he is brighter, fairer, happier there; and we shall soon rejoin him in our Father's house, a reunited family, all the more blessed because we have been for a little while separated, and then we shall part no more for ever. This is the comfort of faith, the assurance of hope; and when we come to sit down in the mansions on high, with our children around us, those children over whose early graves we wept in bitterness, we shall be amazed to think how short has been the separation, and how blessed the love that ordered the parting, and permitted the meeting, in the presence of God. "Oh! when a mother meets on high The day of wo, the watchful night, For all her sorrows, all her tears, An over-payment of delight?" CHAPTER VIII. Letter from a Friend. "MY DEAR FRIEND:-I have just heard of your bereavement, and hasten to offer you my Christian sympathies. I know, indeed, that no creature can give you effectual comfort, nor do I propose to do for you any office which might not be performed by the humblest servant of Christ. The sooner you look away from earth, and set your hope in God, the better for you. He is our buckler, and shield, and salvation. He is a very present help in time of trouble. Compared with our necessities, or with God, all earthly friends and resources are poor things. "Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils." Sometimes the very tears of our friends, by showing us how vain is human aid, deepen our sorrows. "Our heavenly Father is full of kindness, mercy, and grace. He does not afflict willingly. He is a sun and shield; he will give grace and glory; and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 'There is more comfort in one drop that distils from God, than from ten thousand rivers that flow from creature delights.' Are you an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ? then 'Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!' Have you not a good Father? "And is not Jesus the very friend you need? To all his people he is of old a Redeemer and Saviour. 'In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them.' He says, 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid; ye believe in God, believe also in me.' He well knows what sorrow means. He has felt the keenest pangs. He never breaks the bruised reed. He was sent to bind up the broken-hearted, and to comfort all that mourn. If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. Blessed Saviour! thou hast said, 'Because I live, ye shall live also.' At thy bidding I would bear all things. I had rather be with thee in a dungeon, than with thy foes in a palace. Let me, in my measure, fill up that which is behind of thy sufferings. In due time thou wilt make all things plain. Let me but at last be with thee, and I will rejoice in tribula tion. Let my sins be surely pardoned through. thy blood, and I will yield to no fear; and then 'The glory of my glory still shall be, To give all glory and myself to Thee.' "He will not leave you comfortless. It is the very office of his Spirit to cheer and encourage our hearts. How marvellously can this Spirit of love and of holiness chase away our darkness! He giveth songs in the night. He is the oil of gladness. His grace, and pity, and love are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. Get the help of the Spirit, and nothing can undo you. "This is the very time for you to plead and rest upon the provisions of that covenant which is ordered in all things and sure, which is both new and everlasting, which is sealed with blood, confirmed with an oath, established upon the best of promises, and ordained in the hands of a Mediator who cannot fail nor be discouraged. In this covenant is no flaw. Under it there can be no failure. Rest in it, yea, glory in it, and remember all it promises and secures. "But still you weep for your little one. Blessed be God, it is no sin to weep. Jesus wept. Yet, while nature pours out her tears, |